Have yourself a merry little Christmas - The Pretenders

The above-titled song is my favourite secular Christmas song. And the best version IMHO is the one by The Pretenders. However, i can't find it so i had to settle for this also brilliant version by Katie Melua:-

I used to wonder why such an optimistic and happy song has such a meloncholic and moody tune. It was when i listened to the original version that i understood.

The song was sung by Judy Garland in the movie, Meet Me In St. Louis. You can see the clip of it here. The lyrics were quite similar to the version we are familiar with but pretty sad. Basically, it was a bleak Christmas and the song was sung with the hope that next year, things would be better.

Subsequently, Frank Sinatra recorded a "brighter" version with more optimistic lyrics - the one we hear today.

It was also interesting to note that there was a "religious" version with the following lyrics:-

Have yourself a blessed little Christmas
Christ the King is born
Let your voices ring upon this happy morn’
Have yourself a blessed little Christmas
Serenade the earth
Tell the world we celebrate the Savior's birth

Let us gather to sing to Him
And to bring to Him our praise
Son of God and a friend of all
To the end of all our days

Sing hosanna's hymns and hallelujahs
As to Him we bow
Make the music mighty as the heavens allow
And have yourself a blessed little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Have yourself a blessed little Christmas night

To all of you, have a blessed Christmas. May your hearts be filled with joy knowing he came to this earth cuz he loves you!